Verizon rate changes headed this way

It looks like Verizon is preparing to make some significant rate and feature changes to their wireless services effective January 18th. The Boy Genius Report has learned that Verizon is dropping the all-inclusive Premium Plan and re-branding the current Basic Plan to Nationwide Talk and the Select Plan to Nationwide Text and Talk. A 30% drop in pricing on the unlimited minutes options for each of these plans is expected as well.

Unlimited voice plans with Verizon will run $69.99 with a $89.99 option to include unlimited texting. Family plans will run $119.99 a month for the first two lines and $49.99 per additional line.

There will also be some changes to Verizon's data packages. A new $9.99 plan will be available with 25mb of data and mobile email. Overcharges for this plan will drop from $.50 to $.20 per MB. You will also have a $29.99 unlimited data plan with mobile email. All of Verizon's 3G multimedia phones will require at least the $9.99 data plan. Verizon's smartphones will require at minimum the $29.99 data plan.

According to slides obtained by BGR, Verizon states, "These new plans are designed to attract and retain high value customers in the marketplace and recognize the growing popularity of devices with more capabilities than ever before." We've seen claims of who has the biggest map, fastest coverage and most reliable networks. One has to wonder if Verizon's pricing changes will spark a pricing battle as well.

Follow the break for graphics comparing the new Verizon rates with the competition.

Reader comments

Verizon rate changes headed this way

The unlimited voice price seems good, but the unlimited data is still pricey, and the $50 per additional line seems outright insane. Of course, I've never been a Verizon user, so this may all be cheap compared to what it was before for all I know.

That's what it is I'm thinking also. I had gotten an invitation from verizon to take a survey that was asking specifically about things relating to what tmobile is now doing, like would I favor paying full price for a device with no contract versus having one subsidised with a new 2 year, and also one about paying for a new device through an installment plan.

This looks a bit attractive but of course I'll have to wait for formal numbers. I am studying changing from AT&T to Verizon and the new pricing structure seems to be almost the same as what I have in AT&T right now. On top of that I'd hope I canget a corporate discount through work.

Whatever happened to the 500 minute plan? We're not all 18 and spend every last moment of our lives on our phones. I've been a Verizon customer for years and I fail to see how this new plan benefits the older generation (by older I mean late 30's). My wife and I don't ever come close to using 500 minutes in a month, which is our current plan. We would like to upgrade our phones, but 700 minutes is overkill. Once again, all this is helping is those who need unlimited...or the rich, leaving the middle class out in the cold.